FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Pat Coleman]

By NCAA rules, if those players practice with the team beyond the first game of the season, they use a season of eligibility in doing so.

[Brady12]

By NCAA rules, if those players practice with the team beyond the first game of the season, they use a season of eligibility in doing so.

Interesting. I assume for most, if they are not playing freshman year and only practicing they probably aren't a candidate to transfer to D1 but I hope the message is relayed to all players regardless.

Now if a player got hurt while practicing, could they get a red shirt and play elsewhere while getting their MBA.

[lumbercat]

I like the taxi squad concept but in the event of injury to someone on the roster of 84 the reserve players should be eligible to activated. All teams, unfortunately, lose players all the time to injury. A kid who is busting his butt in practice as a tackling dummy should be eligible to be "activated" if a roster spot opens up for any reason. 

[lumbercat]

By NCAA rules, if those players practice with the team beyond the first game of the season, they use a season of eligibility in doing so.

Thanks Pat. Interesting. Does that rule apply only in D3?

[Pat Coleman]

By NCAA rules, if those players practice with the team beyond the first game of the season, they use a season of eligibility in doing so.

Thanks Pat. Interesting. Does that rule apply only in D3?

Division III schools voted to eliminate the non-medical redshirt a little over 20 years ago, yes.

Yes, if someone (anyone, whether they are one of these taxi squad-type members or not) got hurt in the first third of the season and DNP'd after that, they could get a medical redshirt season.

[lumbercat]

Thanks- never been an issue in Nescac programs until recently. Thanks for being on the ball, appreciate your input.

[Nescacman]

By NCAA rules, if those players practice with the team beyond the first game of the season, they use a season of eligibility in doing so.

Thanks Pat. Interesting. Does that rule apply only in D3?

Division III schools voted to eliminate the non-medical redshirt a little over 20 years ago, yes.

Yes, if someone (anyone, whether they are one of these taxi squad-type members or not) got hurt in the first third of the season and DNP'd after that, they could get a medical redshirt season.

Hi Pat! We believe that is correct, however, D3 student-athletes can and do apply for waivers to the medical red-shirt rule (and from what we understand, these waivers have been granted in the past).

As an aside, not sure the loss of a year of eligibility in the NESCAC matters much to these student-athletes anyway. If you are the 105th student-athlete on a Hartford State roster with 84 active players (and probably a freshman), what are the chances you would see the field anyway? Probably somewhere between zero and none. You get to be a part of the team and experience being a student-athlete at an elite academic D3 college football program. You have three more years to make your mark on the field. In our mind, it could work.

NM

[Nescacman]

We realize this is the D3 NESCAC football board, however, we need to toot the horn of our alma matter...

For those of you not following along, AD Mike Whalen has filled two key coaching vacancies (baseball and men's tennis) with D1 coaches:

Matt Reynolds (Baseball HC at UMass): https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/news/2025/8/21/wesleyan-university-names-matt-reynolds-as-head-baseball-coach.aspx

Roland Thornqvist (Men's Tennis HC at University of Florida-4x National Champion): https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/news/2025/8/25/mens-tennis-wesleyan-university-names-roland-thornqvist-head-mens-tennis-coach.aspx

Congratulations to Whales on these incredible hires. #rollcards

NM

[lumbercat]

What happened to Woodworth?

The Whale is a gem in the Football booth- love his commentary. Never expected I would ever hear as many surprised "Wow" comments from the Big Guy on the podcast like he kept uttering last year when Coyne's Bates offense was engineering that upset in Middletown.

He's a class guy and he carried himself with total class in defeat that day in the face of that upset.... as he always does.....maybe that's why the Cards went on to win the whole damn thing!

[Pat Coleman]

By NCAA rules, if those players practice with the team beyond the first game of the season, they use a season of eligibility in doing so.

Thanks Pat. Interesting. Does that rule apply only in D3?

Division III schools voted to eliminate the non-medical redshirt a little over 20 years ago, yes.

Yes, if someone (anyone, whether they are one of these taxi squad-type members or not) got hurt in the first third of the season and DNP'd after that, they could get a medical redshirt season.

Hi Pat! We believe that is correct, however, D3 student-athletes can and do apply for waivers to the medical red-shirt rule (and from what we understand, these waivers have been granted in the past).

Sure -- the guidelines I cited are just a guideline. People can certainly apply for waivers and the entire process is handled through the conference office, actually.

[Brady12]

10 days and counting. Anyone have any insight as to the QB battles around the CAC?

[GroundandPound]

Congratulations to Trinity, Wesleyan, Williams, Colby and Bates on posting 2025 Rosters at least 10 days before the first game :-)
https://bantamsports.com/sports/football/roster
https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/sports/football/roster
https://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/football/roster
https://colbyathletics.com/sports/football/roster
https://gobatesbobcats.com/sports/football/roster

[nescac1]

Well, the Williams "roster" is only the coaching staff, so I'm not sure they earn any kudos there ...

[Trin9-0]

Congratulations to Trinity, Wesleyan, Williams, Colby and Bates on posting 2025 Rosters at least 10 days before the first game :-)
https://bantamsports.com/sports/football/roster
https://athletics.wesleyan.edu/sports/football/roster
https://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/football/roster
https://colbyathletics.com/sports/football/roster
https://gobatesbobcats.com/sports/football/roster

Looks like Charlie was right about the Bantam QB room as neither Jake Robbins, Vincent Ferrara, nor Bobby Wiesenhahn are on the '25 roster. Robbins was a senior last year so that's not a complete surprise depending on his remaining eligibility.

Aronson was a 4-Star QB prospect by Rivals and had at least four other FBS offers coming out of high school. There's not a long track record of successful D1 to NESCAC transfers, but if he turns out to be the real deal then Trinity would be in a great spot at quarterback for the next three seasons.

[Charlie]

Looks like it will come down to wire at Trinity for them to name starting QB between Cam Holland & Jaxon Carroll.

Aronson appeared to have all the accolades but despite a decent football camp word around Hartford State is just not ready for the starting QB spot. There are some bright spots in the under class at Trinity and they should have a solid team once again. I would not expect the high octane offense of years past and look for Trinity to be relying on there running attack with Tyler Denapoli & Jack Tosone. Trinity really high on Josh Woodford at RB as well. I expect this crew to carry Trinity until QB's get there feet wet and some game exposure.

The defense looks strong with a great back end secondary with Charlie Cooper & Bryce Ferrell leading this group. The LB is a work in progress and the injury bug hitting the team at that position. The strong returners are Ethan Krauss & Jose Ruiz.

The DL will be s strong point of defensive unit with Luke Ventura , Matt Hickey and Joe Toyias. This crew will defintely be more athletic with Speed and strength then Trinity has seen in the past.

I think overall Trinity will be slow out of the gates but find there stride early in season.